This is a tale of two birds. And a bit of third one.
The two birds are good at building nests but probably terrible parents.
The third bird is living in a man-made nest. A bit like a bunker, so I call this one "bunker bird".
The bird number 1, the more responsible one, was not too responsible either. The nest was there, but nobody was brooding.
Bird number 1 was upset. Upset about everything.
Bird number 2 was doing what they did the best. Ignored everything and flied back and forth, like seen in the bottom of the photo.
After chilling a while, the bird number 1 decided to sit in the nest.
It didn't look happy, but it did what it had to do. No matter what it was doing.
The bird number 2 entered the scene, flying gallantly to the rescue.
Aaaand just after this photo, it left and flew on the top of the wind generator.
"Wee", said the bird number 2.
"I love when I don't need to work at all!"
The bunker-bird thought the other birds are just being lazy.
Swallows weren't like this in their youth. They were proper and took care of the eggs. Constantly brooding. Constantly!
The bird number 1 was disappointed in bird number 2.
But again as a hero, bird number 2 arrived to the scene.
Number 2 was unsure if they wanted to be there.
But before bird number 2 had a chance to fly off, number 1 decided to move first. It leaped forward quickly.
"FREEEEEDOOOOOM", said bird number 1 in a loud voice.
Bird number 2 grumbled. "Shit, I knew this would happen."
"I better do my job", bird number 2 thought.
And leaped in the nest.
"Oh gross this is full of all kinds of shit"
"I better clean it up".
"Aaaaand I've thrown it away."
"Or was it crap? Or was it the favorite item of number 1?
Goddamit."
"I better carry my responsibility in the best way I can", said bird number 2 in a steady voice: "And ignore the eggs entirely and run away."
"FREEEEEDOOOOM", screamed number 2.
"I am free! I don't want to be a grown up, I want to play all day and never do any chores!"
Bird number 1 did hear the voice and returned the scene.
Or is it bird number 1? Or a fancy hat flying in the wind? A wig perhaps?
This made me mostly think about a jetpack or something you might see in gundam anime.
As bird number 1 was disappointed earlier, they are disappointed again.
Bird number 2 didn't do shit.
"This is my prison", bird number 1 complained:
"If it's this bad now, what will number 2 do when the chicks will hatch?
Goddamn that bastard."
"If we had a door, I'd just change the locks. It's a shame I'm a bird."
The birds are all the same species, barn swallow, Hirundo rustica.
The odd thing is, I have no idea at what phase they were in. They were not constantly on th eggs brooding, but I couldn't see or hear any chicks either. Two swallows were flying on and off to their nest, partially brooding and partially just chilling next to the nest.
I have no idea what they were doing.
Hahaha funny. These birds remind me of my childhood summers spent in the countryside. My grandmother had cows and these birds would make their nest in the area where cows were being held indoors. People thought their bring good luck.
Well at least they are very good at taking care of mosquitoes!
But it's amazing how some bird species are specialized in living with humans. They're depending on man-made buildings so they can build nests in them.
They are really beautiful in their moves and flying. Too bad they're also really fast!
Hey! Yes, the co-exist with humans. It is indeed interesting. I always admired how fast they could fly, it's just incredible! They are cute😊
@apsu I like the diving photo. She might be having some small kids also inside as it is not possible to see clearly. You can wait for their training session by mom🙂
Thanks :)
It's a shame these photos are from our summer cabin neighbor, so we're there only occasionally and the baby birds have most likely flied off from their nest already. It requires extremely good luck to be there on the right time 🙁
Also they probably didn't have the chicks out yet. They usually are pretty loud, screaming for food, but now it was completely silent. Not sure if they were so small that they had just hatched.. but usually when they have chicks, the nest looks like this :)
This is not my image but from google.
@apsu wow they are looking very beautiful. Oh that's is sad to hear that. But I like your photography 😉.